Christopher Columbus

Christopher Columbus, born in Italy, always dreamed of being a sailor, sailing across the ocean. He read the stories of Marco Polo. He too wanted to visit Asia. He hoped to find gold, spices, and other treasures. When he was 13, Christopher became a cabin boy. He sailed to many lands and became a captain. For many years, Columbus asked kings and queens to give him money for food and ships so he could find a new route to China and India. Finally, In 1492, Columbuss dream came true. King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain gave him money. In return he promised to give them new lands, spices, and new people to become Christians. So, on August 3, 1492 Columbus sailed from Spain with 90 men and three ships. The names of his ships were the Nia, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria. On October 12th, after two months of a difficult journey, the Pinta first spotted land. Columbus called this land San Salvador. Columbus thought he would reach Asia in five weeks. But the men sailed for more than two months and did not see land. Many wanted to give up and go home. Then, on October 12, 1492, after months of a difficult journey, a sailor (from Pinta) saw something. Land! Land! he cried. Columbus and his men landed on an island. They named the island San Salvador. No one knows the exact location of the landing spot, but it is often thought to be an island in what is now called the Bahamas. Columbus thought he had reached India, because he believed he had sailed to India and so he called these native people Indians. Columbus was wrong. He was not in India or any other part of Asia. Instead, he had found a New World and the people living on the island were actually the Tainos. The Tainos thought that Columbus and his men were gods. They were amazed at their big colorful ships and their beautiful clothes. At first, Columbus and the Tainos people were friendly. The Tainos welcomed the Europeans into their homes and guided them around nearby islands. They were very friendly. They shared their food. They fed the sailors mangoes, yams, bread, and fish. They also gave the men parrots and gold pieces.
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But the friendly relations between the two people did not last long. As the Europeans searched for richness and tried to force the Tainos to become Christians, the conflicts arose. The Tainos' simpler weapons were not so powerful as those of the Europeans. Some of the natives were murdered. Some were crowded into ships and sent to Spain as prisoners. Many more were made to work like slaves in their own land. In the late 18th century, many countries started celebrating the anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the Americas on October 12, 1492. However, this bad treatment of the native people has led some to oppose the celebration of Columbus Day.

A: Questions 1. What was Columbuss dream? _______________________________________________________________ 2. What did he hope to find? _______________________________________________________________ 3. What did the Taino give Columbus and his men? _______________________________________________________________ 4. What gifts would you give a visitor to your country? _______________________________________________________________ B: Circle the correct answer 1. Where was Christopher Columbus born? India Italy Spain 2. What was Columbus's first job? Cabin boy Captain Ship builder 3. Why did Columbus want to sail across the ocean? To prove that the Earth was round To find a new route to China and India To vacation in a warm climate

4. Who gave Columbus the money for his ships and crew? The queen of Portugal The government of Italy The king and queen of Spain 5. How long was Columbus's journey from Spain to the New World? 2 weeks +2 months 2 years 6. Which of Columbus's 3 ships first spotted land in the New World? Nina Pina Santa Maria 7. What did Columbus name his landing spot? San Salvador Bahamas America

C: Circle the correct answer (Christopher Columbus and the Natives) 1. When did Christopher Columbus first arrive in the New World? 1072 1492 1842 2. Why did the natives think Columbus was a god? He brought the natives gold and jewels. He was very strong and handsome. He wore beautiful clothes and had a large ship. 3. Why did Columbus call the natives "Indians"? Columbus thought he had landed in India. That was the name of the tribe. That's how you say "native people" in Spanish. 4. The Tainos had more powerful weapons than the Europeans. True False Doesn't say in the story

5. Many Tainos got sick from European diseases. True False Doesn't say in the story 6. Why do some people oppose celebrating Columbus Day? Because Ponce de Leon didn't reach Florida until 1513. Because it was another man who first spotted land when Columbus reached the New World. Because Columbus and his fellow Europeans treated the native people poorly.

D: Write a Letter to the King Asking for Money

D: Describe the picture